Chapter 3 - The Second Key
Madison stepped toward the door.
Ryan moved in front of her.
“Where are you going?”
“Back to the reception.”
“We’re not finished.”
“Yes, we are.”
She reached for the handle.
Ryan caught her wrist.
Not hard enough to leave an immediate mark.
Hard enough to stop her.
Madison stared at his hand.
“Let go.”
His polished smile disappeared.
“We have spent too much money on this wedding for you to start behaving irrationally now.”
Gloria took a pen from the folder.
“Sign the documents. Then everyone can enjoy the evening.”
Madison pulled her wrist free.
“No.”
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
He turned the lock.
Madison heard the click.
Her heartbeat changed.
“Unlock the door.”
“You need to calm down.”
“I am calm.”
Gloria walked toward a second interior door leading to the dressing room.
She opened it with a key hidden in her clutch.
Two of Ryan’s male cousins stood on the other side.
They were still wearing formal suits.
Neither looked surprised to see the documents.
Madison backed away.
“What is this?”
Ryan lowered his voice.
“Insurance.”
“Against what?”
“Against you changing your mind after marriage.”
Madison looked at the two men blocking the second exit.
Then at Gloria holding the pen.
This was not an argument that had gone wrong.
This was an operation.
Ryan had chosen the room.
Gloria had carried the papers.
The cousins had been positioned outside.
Madison’s refusal was not unexpected.
It was part of their plan.
Ryan slid the folder toward her.
“You can walk out as my wife,” he said, “or make this much more difficult than it needs to be.”
May you like
Madison lifted her chin.
“I’m leaving as neither.”
